What is a Protestant allowed to do in mass? This crossed my mind when I was invited to listen to a few friends perform in the choir, and I was pulled out of my seat and handed a basket on a poll. The person doing so whispered something to me which I couldn't make out until he exited. It was at that point I realized that I was then taking offertory. I realize that partaking of the Eucharist is understandably not allowed. Can a Protestant get on his or her knees? I had a priest allude to musical contributions upon hearing that I have a music degree and had performed as a solo performer for various churches. Is that really allowed? I realize that this may seem like a more complicated question. Basically, what can and can not be done?

I didn't know visiting protestants were not allowed to read from the epistles.I thought we all believed in the same bible.

With the permission of the bishop, it can be permitted in certain cases like for ecumenical gatherings. Other than that, proclaiming the Word to the assembled congregation is a ministerial function, and although lay Catholics can fill the rule as lay ministers within the Church, it is not generally acceptable for non-Catholics to attempt to exercise a ministry of this sort.

The misunderstanding here is between the ministry of lector and reading at a liturgy. The ministry of Lector is reserved for adult male Catholics only. We also call lectors, other readers who are not commissioned, which is the majority of our readers in a parish.

However, there are times when a non Catholic may legitimately be asked to read one of the lessons such as the funeral of a loved one, the wedding of his or her child or even an ordination. I know a very interesting family. The mother is Catholic and the father is Lutheran. They have three children, two sons and one daughter. One son is a diocesan priest. One son is a Franciscan brothers and the daughter is a Sister of Mercy. Dad has read al the ordination of the priest and the profession of vows of the brother and sister.

These are extraordinary situations, not your usual Sunday mass. A bishop or a male religious superior may grant the permission.

Basically anything except reeving the Eucharist or serving at or around the altar, including reading the OT, Epistle, Prayers of the Faithful.

This is probably more applicable in more public Masses. I've been at funeral Masses and retreat centers where admitted non-Catholics were actually encouraged to read, cantor the Mass, sing the hymns, etc. I didn't even want to see whether they received or not.

This is probably more applicable in more public Masses. I've been at funeral Masses and retreat centers where admitted non-Catholics were actually encouraged to read, cantor the Mass, sing the hymns, etc. I didn't even want to see whether they received or not.

It's not a violation of Church law if they do, but it would make little sense to do so unless it's as I said, your sister's wedding or your parent's funeral or something very close to hom. Even receiving communion may be allowed by the local Ordinary. That's his call to make. Pope Benedict allows it to some Protestants at his masses. The last one that I remember seeing was Brother Roger of Taize, who was Lutheran. However, Brother believed in the real presence and was a personal friend of Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict. They knew his beliefs personally, not through some magazine article that they read somewhere. At the local level, the same rule applies. If the bishop knows of a good reason to allow a Protestant or an Orthodox to receive Holy Communion, he may do so.

As to reading, cantoring, bringing up the gifts, it's not an infraction of any rule and you don't need the bishop's permission; but it's not the logical thing to do.